The Grahamstown Area Distress Relief Association (GADRA) was established in 1968 to assist those in dire poverty by providing feeding schemes and school fees. In time the Organisation grew and split into two units, and in 1996 GADRA Advice took the Civilian Blind under its wing.

We are a small staff of 12, with one full time volunteer through Volunteer Services Abroad, New Zealand. What makes us really special is that 5 of our staff members are Blind or Partially Sighted individuals.

Our programmes can be divided into two:

1.) Social Welfare and Development for the Acutely Poor – this includes: assistance with grants, food parcels and clothing hampers, weekly soup kitchens, sewing skills for the unemployed, solar cooking training and referrals to community resources.

2.) Skills Development for the Blind and Partially Sighted – this includes: Braille classes, computer lessons, bee-keeping and honey harvesting, food gardens for the Blind, extramurals and outings such as gym, arts and crafts and marimba drumming, provision of assistive devices such as canes, a hostel for the Blind and Adult Based Education Training (ABET).

Up to 18 Blind or Partially Sighted learners attend our daily programme for a period of 6 months or more.

We do not receive funding from the Department of Social Development and rely on our own fundraising efforts and support from both local and international funders.

Operates in: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Established in: 1968

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 003-671
Public Benefit Organisation Number: 930003255
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Carol Johnson
Phone: 046 636 1744
Fax: 086 511 3644
Email:

Website: www.gadra.co.za

Physical address: Grounds of the Day Hospital, Cobden Street, Grahamstown
Postal address: P O Box 6427, Market Square, Grahamstown, 6141